Event faces up to abuse in churches

Advice about how to protect children from sexual attack while in church will be given at Birstall Community Church next month in a bid to safeguard both children and staff.

Pastor Bill Miller, who is hosting the event, said churches needed to ensure children were safe in their care and that their staff avoided situations where they could be accused of abuse.

He said: "Churches are and always have been the largest provider of voluntary activities for children.

"For that reason we cannot assume children will be safe.

"Members of staff who abuse children do slip through the net, but all staff need to make sure they don't put themselves in a position where allegations could be made.

"Situations can be misconstrued and staff need to be careful both for themselves and the children in their care."

Mr Miller, who became Pastor at the church in Smithies Lane two years ago, said his congregation felt churches should tackle the issue following a number of high-profile abuse cases involving churchmen.

He said: "This sort of thing has always gone on but people are becoming more aware of it. School staff would get training in this so people in churches should be trained too."

Around 150 invitations to churches, church schools and children's groups run at churches have been sent out for the seminar on June 10.

Entitled Facing the Unthinkable, the seminar will be given by the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service which has more than 30 years of experience of working with abused children.

The event is one of only two such seminars being held in Yorkshire this year.

It will also highlight how staff can spot children who have been abused, either at home or elsewhere.

Topics will include identifying child abuse, promoting good practice, when to call social workers and minimising the risk of false allegations.

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